How to Halter Train Your Dog

There are several reasons why you might want to halter train your dog, and it isn't as difficult as one might imagine. If you've already trained your dog to collar and leash, halter training should simply be the next logical progression. in fact, the most difficult part of halter training is teaching your dog that the apparatus isn't going to be scary or harmful. Since it's larger than a collar and more cumbersome, he or she might have some reservations at first.

What is halter training?

Halter training simply refers to the practice of guiding your dog using a halter rather than a collar. A halter is an extension of the collar with another band that wraps around your dogs torso behind the front elbows. The two collars are usually attached by one or two straps that connect with a buckle or snap, and the added extensions provide the owner with more control over the dog.

Why would you want to halter train your dog?

The most common reason for halter training a dog is for added control. When you have a large dog (or even a medium-sized dog), some people aren't able to control them with just a collar and leash. When you take a large dog on a walk, it's important that you maintain enough control to keep the dog walking with you rather than trying to pull you ahead, and halter training allows you to have more control. A large dog could pull a small person over if he or she had the motivation, and a collar is just too dangerous in some instances.

Further, halter training ensures that your dog will not be able to pull out of his or her collar. Some dogs have narrow heads and thick necks, which makes it easy for the dog to simply slip out of a collar even if it is tightly cinched. It's no fun looking for a lost pet who has escaped its collar, so a halter helps to eliminate the possibility of lost pets.

Is halter training abusive?